Portable container for calcium carbide and the like



'18, 1942. F, A. MILLER ETQAL 2,293,160

PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR CALCIUM .C ARBIDE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l dA.M/Zer Frederic/1 CM'zcbeiZ 11 1212777 M werr ff INVENTORS BY W X ATTORNEY I- 18, 2- I F. A. MILLER EITALA 2,293,160

PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR CALCIUM- CARBIDE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. l4 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 76 54 F ""1 f l I 69 1 I 91F 46 68 I l J I Ffez/AMY/vr Au 18, 1942.- FJA. MILLER ETA'L 2,293,150

PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR CALCIUM CARBIDE AND THE LIKE FiledAug. 14,- 1941- s Sheets-Sheet 3 V a 6/ I 1 5'6 1 Red A. M1212 E'Pderir/r CM'fc/zeil 1 077211. WfiPZrE/f INYENTORS ATTORNEY shipping container.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 i N- TES PATENT OFFIC I roa'rABLE ooura lfrz iba oammme I BIDE AND THE Fred A. Miller, Frederick c. Mitchell, and William N. Wherrett, Wilmington, Del., assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application August 14,1941, Serial No. 406.836

6 Claims.

' for acetylene generators.

In the past it has been customary to ship calcium carbide in simple, air-tight, thin sheet metal drums, the largest of which was capable of holding only about 1100 pounds of the granular material. This practice is very uneconomical when acetylene is generated on a large scale because of the handling costs and the inconvenient 'features of the construction of such containers.

The present invention had for its principal ob-. -ject the provision of an improved calcium carbide Qther objectswere to pro vide,a calcium carbide container which could be tightly attached to an acetylene generator feeding hopper for direct feeding, and whichwould contain sufiicient'material to feed a large acetylene generator for several hours, to design 9. calcium carbide container which would eliminate the cost incident to the handling of drums of calcium carbide, and to provide a large shipping container for calcium carbide which could be conveniently loaded and stored by the manufacturer of calcium carbide; A general advance in the art, and other objects which will appearhereinafter, are also contemplated.

It has now been found that great economies in the manufacture 'of acetylene gascan be secured by utilizing acontainer resembling two truncated pyramids placed base to base on their vertical axes and capable of holding approximately six tons of calcium carbide. The lower tapered section of this construction servesas a very eflicient feeding bin for the acetylene generator, and the upper tapered section obviates an accumulation of dangerous gas in the full container during storage.

How the foregoing objects andrelated ends are accomplished'will be apparent from the followa ing exposition, in which are disclosed the principle and divers, embodiments of the invention, including the best mode contemplated for carry- Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the container;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end elevationview of the container;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic bottom view of the container;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation view of the bottom closure of the container with the closure gate in closed position-and a dotted outline indicating the open position of the gate;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly in section, of the top closure of the container;

l5 Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the top closure of the container;

Figure 8 is 'a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation "view of a container in position for feeding an acetylene generator and the top part '20 of thegenerator with connection apparatus;

of as'addle or frame employed in stacking one container" of the present invention on top of another container.

Referring nowto Figure 1, 20 indicates a container and IOI the railroad car in which such containers are shipped. In this figure, certain "small parts of the container have been omitted in order to show its general arrangement more clearly. The specific features are shown more in .40 detail in Figures 2, 3'and 4.

The container The container comprises a central prismshaped section of rectangular cross-section indicated at 2|, an upper section22 resembling somewhat an upright truncated pyramid, and a lower section 23 resembling an inverted truncated Pyramid. The container is constructed of sheet metal such as steel, welded at the joints 60 in the sheet to make it gas-tight, and is supported by four upright or vertical corner angles 24 which extend slightly above the central prism section for stacking purposes (the details of which will be discussed later). These angles are welded to theprism section of the container with Figure 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view under side of this plate.

fillet welds along each angle edge where it adjoins the container, and this construction is strengthened by light gusset plates 25 fillet welded to the angles and the container. These gussets are offset with reverse bends by the thickness of the metal making up the angle in order to provide horizontal surface contact with the container and angle along the upper portion of the plate and vertical surface contact with the angle below the prism section 22.

The bottoms of the angles 24 are braced and spaced. apart by a rectangular frame 25 made up of angles, and this structure is further strengthened by eight gusset plates 2'! fillet welded to both this frame and the corner angles. 4

End cross bracing is provided by channels 28. In order to keep these end channel braces in the same plane, one is cut to permit the passage of vided by fillet welding a U-shaped strap 52 over the notched portion of the strap 50. To this the other. A plate 28 is fillet welded outside or over the uncut channel and the adjacent ends of the cut channel are similarly welded, to the These end channel braces are welded to the upper corner gussets and the lower corner gussets 2T.

At the sides of the container, support and rigidity are supplied by channels 30 welded to the gussets 25 and plates 3|, which in turn are welded to frame 26 midway of its sides. The under structure is further strengthened with horizontal bracing consisting of four angles 32 (Fig ure 4) welded near the corners of the vertical side of the angle frame 26 inside the gussets 2i, and to the sides of the connecting piece or housing 6i about the lower outlet of the container.

The filling hatch As shown in Figures 3 and 6, straps 38 are welded near the top of the container on one end to furnish a means for hinging a cover 39 over the container top opening, or filling hatch. The hinge pin is shown at 4B. The hatch cover comprises a plate 4! with a downward extending weather flange 42 (to obviate opening difiiculties which might be caused by snow and ice). The

opening'in the container has a flange 43 which supports a sealing gasket 44 upon which the lid rests. Straps 45 (Figures 2, 3 and 'l), welded to the container on opposite sides of the cover,

are provided with bayonet slots to receive a clamping bar 48. Near the center of the hatch cover there are welded twvo upright straps 41, and to these there is welded a horizontal strap 48.

A clamping bolt 49, extending through a hole in the strap 48 and threaded through the clamping bar 48, enables the closure to be made gastight. It is believed obvious that proper rotation of the bolt head (the point of the bolt resting on the cover 39) tends to force the bar 46 upward and the plate 4| downward. Since the bar 48 cannot rise (being in the slots in straps the lid is tightly pressed against the gasket 44. Movement of the bolt in the opposite direction provides sufiicient play for the bar 45 (between it and the top cover) to permit its being slipped out of the bayonet slots in the strap 45. The cover may then beswung back about'the hinge pin 40 to open the filling hatch.

To prevent tampering during transit, a sealing arrangement (shown most clearly in Figure 6) is provided. It comprises a strap 58 rotatably secured with a loose rivet 5| to the strap 45. The strap 58 is notched to fit tightly about the hexagon head of the clamping bolt 49, as shown in Figure 'l. A housing for the bolt head pro- U-shaped strap 52 there is riveted a retaining chain 53 which is alsoriveted to a slotted pin 54. Registering holes are provided in straps 50 and 48 for this pin. The slot 55 in the pin 54 is designed to receive the conventional metal ribbon 'seal used with railroad freight trafllc.

The discharge gate lene generator tightly fits while the container is being emptied into the said generator. This housing provides support for a worm 62, sector 83, and horizontal shaft 13 gate operating mechanism. The vertical worm operating shaft 84, which is journaled in the worm casing or housing 65, is surrounded by packing 66 and gland 51 to prevent the escape o; any acetylene gas which may work its ways up into the housing 8! into the casing 65.

An'eirtension or strap 58 (Figure 4) on the plate 68 has apertures which register with apertures in disc 68 on the worm shaft 84. The purpose of these registering apertures is to provide a location for a railroad car seal when the filled container is being transported. A gate locking v device is thereby provided.

The bottom of the container is closed bya conical-face gate 18 having projecting lugs H through which a pin connection is made with the gate lever '22. The gate lever and sector 63 are keyed to the shaft E3 to provide positive raising and lowering of the bottom closure. Lugs 15 journal the shaft l3, and lugs [4 limit the tilting movement of the gate (by contact with the gate lever). A sealing gasket 15 is carried by the closure gate and is compressed against the plate 68 when the gate is seated to close the container in a gas-tight manner. The upper surface of the gate lever is tapered to prevent an accumulation of the calcium carbide thereon.

Miscellaneous container features While the container is being emptied into the acetylene generator some acetylene gas finds its way into the .container, and for safety purposes,

a vent line 84 through which any'acetylene pres-' ent is carried away.

For moving the individual containers, a teakettle type pick-up device is provided. A pipe 86 (Figures 1, 2 and 3), extending throughv the upper section of the container, serves as a bail for crane hooks. It is fillet welded to the container to provide a gas-tight-connection. The ends of this pipe are welded to straps 81 which are in turn welded to the central section of .the container. This arrangement makes the hendllng of the individual containers very simple because a double hook from a crane will engage the bail by movement of the crane, thus dispensing with the hand operation required in connecting a crane hook to the conventional portable container lifting means.

The stacking frame In Figure 11 there is shown a container stacking frame 90 which is used for storing the containers in a two-high relation. This frame consists of a rectangular arrangement of angle irons 9! adapted to fit about the bottom ofthe container supporting framework and vertically disposed angles 92 connected at the corners thereof to rest onthe top of another container. Supports 93, welded inside these vertical angles, rest on top of the container corner angles 24 when the frame has been placed on top of a container. The angles 92 fit outside the angles 24. The stacking frame is strengthened by eight gussets 94 Joining the lateral or horizontal frame section angles 9I to the vertical angles 92. Lifting lugs 95 facilitate handling of this frame.

Fillet welding is used throughout the construction.

'The connecting hopper ports the container and the feeding hopper. By

the time the under structure of thecontainer reaches the platform 231 which supports it,above the feeding hopper, this gasket is depressed into a the horizontal plane shown. The gasket is secured by bolts such as that shown at 220 to an valve stem 200 by means of a nut 209 and a threaded extension of the stem. The stem 209 (see the left-hand side of the Figure 10) is keyed to a sprocket wheel 2I0. A chain 2| I, extend- 5 ing through chain guide 2I2, is provided for inwardly extending flange or continuous gasket holding ring 239 welded onto the upright hopper wall 240. The inner part of the gasket is supported and pressed upward by a frame 2 made of angle irons. Resilient support for this frame is provided by springs, one of which is. shown at 242, extending between the frame 2 and plate 243 about the bolt 244. The plate 243 is sup-.

' ported on a series of brackets 245 secured to the In operation,

inside of the hopper wall 240. calcium carbide drops through the hopper into the conveyor and is transported thereby to the.

generator. A screw or auger-type feed (not shown) in the conveyor casing 20I has been found quite satisfactory.

The feed line valve At the exit end of the conveyor casing 20I (see Figure 8) there is a T 202, the cross-arm of which constitutes an extension of the casing. Its vertical arm connects with an auxiliary feeding hopper 209. Support for these parts is pro-- vided by the integral bracket or post 232 which is bolted to the top of the generator 200. The hopper 203 is present only as a precaution, its purpose being to facilitate the charging of the generator in .case of stoppages in the normally employed portions of the apparatus.

turning sprocket wheel 2I0, and as a result, also the stem 200 and disc 201. I 0

The valve bonnet is shown at 2I3, and iii it is Journaled. a tube 2. which covers the major portion of the valvestem. Packing 2I5, held in place by the gland 2I0, provides a gastight stufilng box arrangement. Qnthe end of the tube or stem sleeve 2 there is welded or otherwise firmly secured a stem collar2I1 which is free to rotate in a recess in therear of the valve disc. A plate 2I9, secured by bolts or equivalent means to the-back of the valve disc, conlines this collar so that the lateral motion of the sleeve and'disc is the same.

The left-hand side (Figure 10) of the-sleeve is threaded, and co-acts with corresponding threads in the bushing '2I9. This 'bushing is supported in a bearing 220. A sprocket wheel 22I, chain guide 222 and collar 223 are mounted on the bushing. The collar is secured to the bushing by a set screw 224 to keep the last-mentioned parts in assembled relation.

The bearing 220 is mounted on a bracket 225 which is secured to the top of the generator. This bracket also supports a key 226 which operates in a groove 221 in the threaded portion of sleeve 2 to prevent rotation. Gas-tightness in the valve is also contributed to by means oi packing" fitting over the end of the sleeve 2 I4.

' Rotation oi the sprocket wheel 22I causes the sleeve 2 to move laterally, thereby .closing or opening the valve. In case the valve seatis blocked by the material being fed to the generator, or otherwise encrusted, it is cleared by ro-- tating the valve disc. This is accomplished by means of'the sprocket wheel 2 I0 operating through the stem 200. A collar 230, secured on the stem 209 by means of a set screw 23I, maintains the sprocket wheel 2I0 and chain guide 2I2 in proper position. A plate 233, removably secured, constitutes the top of the valve body 205 and provides a means of cleaning the valve in case of obstruction. It also permits access to the valve disc and associated parts for maintenance, repair, etc. The valve bonnet is recessed at 234 andthe inlet port apertured at 235 to provide for complete removal of the valve disc from the passage Connecting the T 202 and the calcium carbide feeder port of the generator is a valve body 205 and a flanged coupling 204. The valve disc 201 seats against the edge 200 of an aperture in housing 205 (by which the material from way through which the material being charged enters. the generator.

' The railroad car The containers are shipped in flat bottom, gondola-type, railroad cars such as that shown at l0I in Figure 1. Preferably a low'side, solid" bottom car with fixed ends is employed. The car illustrated has wooden plank flooring I02 and steel side and end sheathing as shown at I03 and I04, respectively. I

The interior of the car is divided into coinpartments or sections, each capable of accommodating one container by means of a lengthwise channel iron I05 and crosswise channels, one of which is indicated at I00. The rigidity of this sectioning means is increased by welding it to supports located at the corners of the compartments. The lengthwise channel and cooperating vertical channels, one of which is indicated at I01.

' are welded together and to the end sheathing of are supported by, and welded to, hollowpressed steel columns or center posts, one of which is indicated at H0. These posts-in plan View are cross-shaped. They extend through the wooden flooring and are welded to the top cover plate HI of the center sills H2 and H3.

The bottom boards in the floor of the car are spaced about one inch apart to allow for drainage-of water from such sources as melting snow, etc.

'Many of the advantages of the present invention are believed obvious from a consideration of the device itself. Nevertheless, it seems desirable to emphasize certain points. A specific form of container" and arrangement of car to receive the same is provided, whereby the container may be loaded by the shipper, stored or placed upon a car adapted to receive it, shipped, and remo ed from the car for immediate use or storage by the consignee with the shipment intact.

As many apparently widely difierent embodiplate, and a gate having a conical surface adapted to seat in and close said circular opening, a shaft having keyed thereto a sector gear and lever, said lever carrying said gate, another shaft carrying a worm coacting with said sector gear for opening and closing said gate, and means for preventing the escape of gas 'about said worm carrying shaft and sector gear.

3. A portable smooth interior calciumv carbide container with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section and having an upper ments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: a l. A portable smooth interior calcium carbide container with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section and having an upper frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom discharge outlet gate valve of cross section large enough to permit easy discharge of granular calcium carbide on the small est end of the lower section, a gas-tight housing about said discharge outlet adapted to seat on a calcium carbide receiver and form a gas-tight connection between said receiver and the container due to the weight of the container, a filling hatch with gas-tight sealing cover on the upper section, and bottom supporting means for the container adapted to space the discharge outlet and its housing above the surface on which the container rests.

2. A portable smooth interior calcium carbide container with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section .and having an upper frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom discharge outlet gate valve of cross section large enough to permit easy discharge of granular calcium carbide on the smallest end of the lower section, a gas-tight housing about said discharge outlet adapted to seat on a calcium carbide receiver and form a gas-tight connection between said receiver and the container due to the weight of the container, a fil ing hatch with gas-tight sealing cover on the upper section, bottom supporting means for the container adapted to space the discharge outlet and its housing above the surface on which the container rests, said discharge outlet gate valve comprising a plate welded to the smallest end of the lower section, a circular discharge opening in said frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom discharge outlet gate valve of cross section large enough to permit easy discharge of granular calcium carbide on the smallest end of the lower section, a gas-tight housing about said discharge outlet adaptedto seat on a calcium carbide receiver and form a gastight connection between said receiver and the containerdue to the Weight of the container, a filling hatch with gas-tight sealing cover on the upper section, bottom supporting means for the container adapted to space the discharge outlet and its housing above the surface on which the container rests, said filling hatch cover comprising a plate with a depending'weather flange and locking means, said locking means comprising a bar mounted on said plate and extending across the same to engage hook straps mounted on the container at the sides of the filling hatch, the mounting for said bar comprising a frame about said bar and secured to the cover plate, a bolt extending through said frame and threaded through said bar in such a manner that when the bolt is tightened it bears against the top of the cover plate and forces the said bar into tight engagement with the said side hooks.

' 4. A portable smooth interior calcium carbide container with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section and having an upper frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom discharge outlet gate valve of cross section large enough to permit easy discharge of granular calcium carbide on the smallest end of the lower section, a gas-tight housing about said discharge outlet adapted to seat on a calcium carbide receiver and form a gas-tight connection between said receiver and the container due to the weight of the container, a filling hatch with gas-tight sealing cover on the upper section, bottom supporting means for the con-- tainer with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section and having an upper frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom discharge outlet gate valve of cross section large enough to permit easy discharge of granular calcium carbide on the smallest end of the lower section, a gas-tight housing about 'said discharge outlet adapted to seat on the acetylene generator receiver and form a gas-tight connection between said receiver and the container due to the weight of the container, a filling hatch with gas-tight sealing cover on the upper section, bottom supporting means for the container adapted to space the discharge outlet and its housing above'the surface on which the container rests.

6. A portable smooth interior calcium carbide I shipping, storage and feeding container with gas purging connections and lifting means, said container having its main capacity in a central section and having an upper frustum shaped section based on the top of the central section and a lower inverted frustum shaped section based on the bottom of the central section, a bottom dissupporting means for the container comprising comer braces adapted to space the discharge outlet and its housing above the surface upon which 7 the container rests, said corner braces extending slightly above the central prism section.

FRED A. MILLER. FRED. C. MITCHELL. W. N. WHERREPI. 

